For blacks, mix of 'Help' emotions on Oscar nightAfrican-Americans wrestle with Hollywood history as they contemplate Viola Davis' Oscar loss
By The Associated Press

There is much debate in the black community over the segregation-era movie "The Help." But most African-Americans still hoped that the star of the movie, Viola Davis, would win the Oscar for best actress.

So there is widespread disappointment after Davis lost the Academy Award to Meryl Streep. There's also some relief that Davis' role as a maid ' which some view as stereotypical ' was not honored.

Robinne Lee, a black actress in such films as "Seven Pounds" and "Hotel for Dogs," is one of those disappointed Oscar watchers. She says there was a lot of excitement about Davis' chance to become only the second black woman to be named best actress. But Lee also is eager to see more diverse movie casts in a wider variety of roles.

Before Sunday's ceremony, only 13 black actors had won Oscars in the 84-year history of the Academy Awards.